OK, thanks for the info.

Actually the doors aren't open to air the units; they were sucked off by the storm, taking all of the contents of the building with them. So yeah, silver-lining is that the shells of the builds are well aired out.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Jenni--I believe your family owns a unit there? Any updates as to when rebuilding will begin?

I haven't heard any dates yet. I'm sure they'll be posted on Facebook when anything becomes official and ready for public consumption. Island time, you know! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

OK

For not the single most important spot on the island, as of now this thread had 8,913 views at 13 days old.
Draw your own conclusions.
Again, only an opinion, not looking for a squabble.

Sorry, did not mean that to be directed at Carol, just the general board.

I'm not sure that you can extrapolate that from the number of views.
Given...those who love Orient are passionate....and would be the type to check a particular thread several times a day. So one person could account for multiple views, not multiple people.'

Just sayin'

St Maarten Island is a beautiful place. We were in Jamaica a few weeks ago but really missed the SXM experience.
Though we love keeping current with SXM news, we are not the types to drive up the view count by multiple visits to TTOL every day, and drive an agenda. No one we have met does that either, to be honest.

Heck. I check the same thead multiple times a day just to see the responses. There goes your theory. And orient isn't my favorite beach area.

Sorry, dude, wasn't looking for a squabble.

No squable. Just stating a fact.

Friend, I mean no harm. My only point was for a thread attracting nearly 9,000 views, Orient Beach must be a significant attraction.
Please, no offense is intended.

Seems like those that are so “pro” Orient are trying to pit the one beach against the rest of the island - “my beach is more important than the rest”. I check this post many times hoping to read something about keeping it more subdued and NOT adding back the circus atmosphere. Not directed at you but in general.

Very well stated.

While I do not go back as far as you and your family, Orient of 25+ years ago was vastly different back then. Yes, Club Orient was there and was very popular but the "circus" atmosphere was not there.

I went for probably a 5 year stretch without going to Orient. Unless I had new visitors with me, I had no desire to make the drive (and possible consequences) from Simpson Bay. I do still enjoy a day on Orient but I also preferred the more laid back and simpler Orient of years ago.

To each their own.

We started going to SXM in the mid-90s and really enjoyed the many friendships that developed at the Bikini Beach Bar. When Andy and Cheryl moved to the beach it just added to the party.
In the late 90s we bought at Mary's Boon but continued day trips to see our friends at Orient.
We stopped going when Andy passed away and Elisa got robbed out of her place.
It is a nice beach but the difference isn't worth the traffic and what were parking issues and cruise ship based crowds.

We used to go to orient multiple times in our 4 week stay. Didn't make it once last trip.

Another perspective, perhaps?

Our first trip to St. Maarten/St. Martin dates back to the early 70's and while Orient was not the first beach we visited - that would have been Mullet - we visited it nonetheless.

It was a totally different place than what many of you 'late comers' to the island who arrived say in the last 20-25 years knew. It was a pristine area that was actually difficult to locate coming from 'the other side' of the island. But find it we did and the only thing there that I can honestly recall was the earliest days of Orient Beach Club aka the 'nudist camp' and it was tucked away at the end of the beach pretty much away from all else. And for the record - 'all else' would include the occasion stray cow or donkey, and the sea grape and various other island flora and fauna that grew there in profusion along with the original restaurant on the beach - a 55 gal. drum morphed into a BBQ grill from which came some incredibly good eats.

It was truly a heavenly kind of place - no crowds at all - you could wander the full length of the beach and maybe encounter 2-3 small clusters of people seeking their privacy and a few more people mostly as you neared the Club O location.

Over the years that original BBQ grill eatery evolved into a profusion of shacks, huts and eventually, some pretty nice eateries and boutiques and even a few hotels with many local entrepreneurs settling in to earn a living there.

And the people came. And the more it was 'talked about' via the internet and hyped as a 'site to see', the more the people came and the development kept increasing.

Now here's where I get into trouble, and know, please, I'm not talking about the Club Orient property specifically but the beach pretty much over all - to me it took on a circus-like atmosphere of people trying to see and be seen. Not everyone, of course, but too many for my tastes. And with the profusion of information out there about this beach, it became to many of us just another cruise ship attraction - often times loud and boisterous people imbibing too freely of the various island libations along the route and all too often, displaying some pretty tacky behaviors.

Many feel this, more so than anything else lead to the decline in favorability of this beach for so many of us. But in the end, nature took its' course and Irma returned the beach to that which many of us knew and originally fell in love with.

I know there are many who will take issue with me, but for as long as it lasts, I would be inclined to rediscover what little is left of the old Orient, and for those who long for the up-scale eateries, accommodations, beach chaises and umbrellas, crowds and all the like, don't fret too much, it will return again and perhaps a lot quicker than it did the first time around. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

We think it is an unbelievably beautiful stretch of beach. When we started going in the early 90's it wasn't too bad. Obviously nothing like you encountered in the 70's Pat. As it got more and more "Circus or Carnival" like we stopped.

If it stayed more low key, we would go back. If not, there are a lot of beaches to choose from.

Pat, I'm not taking issue with you, and never would. Your posts are always well thought out, worded, and appreciated.
But, you and others have mentioned a "circus like atmosphere", which we have never experienced while staying at Club O many times. Maybe we just went on the wrong weeks, but we've found it to nothing but laid back, relaxing and friendly.
We started going to the island in '85, and can remember lying on the beach, above the rocks, using a sea grape tree for shade, and having the pristine beach almost to ourselves.
Now, we seldom would venture north of the rocks, except for an occasional lunch at one of our favs - and there were some excellent choices there.
The only "circus type atmosphere" happened when Da Party Bus would park next to the wall, music and sirens blaring, to allow the gawkers on top of it to hold up their phones to take pictures of the guests.
We were scheduled to stay there last month, and were sad when Irma changed that. But, we just lost a vacation. Others lost much more than that.
And, no, I'm not saying that "our" beach is better or more important than any other. It's just our preference. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Biturbo, I believe in paragraph 7 Pat indicated she is NOT talking about the Club O property....rather everything North of the rocks.

I agree with you Pat...but I did enjoy the upscale eateries, as it was an oasis to escape the craziness...until a huge bus with cruisers would roll through and they each got a shot of alcohol and then a particular section of chairs was roped off for them. And I too have witnessed more than I would care to of bad and crass behaviour.

Others before Pat first mentioned the "circus like atmosphere", without specifying which part of the beach they were referencing. I guess I was just defending the many wonderful friends we've met over the years at Club O. Trust me, Pat & I are cool.
I too have witnessed the drunken, rude behavior. I think too many assume that if the beach allows toplessness and nudity, anything goes. The difference at the Club is that security is usually quick to respond.

That's when we stopped going also. I loved the beach but it all got to be a bit too much for us, along with the parking & time to get there.

We are newbies compared to most here as we have made 7 trips to the island in the last 6 years. Much of our time has been spent on Orient Beach and the vast majority of that at the Club O beach even though we have never stayed there. In the beginning, we had no interest in the Club O area. We have met many friends on that beach in that relatively short time and while we spend time all over the island, I suppose we now consider that beach "home" when we are on the island.

As much as it hurts my heart to think of the loss that so many have experienced, we actually look forward to returning in July and experiencing Orient Beach as many of you have many years ago.

I have experienced a number of natural disasters in my day and in every case, the community has come back stronger as a result of nature's reset...I'm trusting SXM will do the same.

And what is?

It's what's important to you. Is what is.

Same here. While we love all of the island, Orient Beach was the first place we ever visited on SXM during a cruise to the island. We fell in love with SXM that very day and went back for a week at Club O the following year. We’ve been back at least once a year since that first visit in 2006 (staying at various places), and Orient Beach is always our favorite beach. We have since enjoyed many of the other beaches on both sides as well, but Orient still holds a special place in our hearts. We will love it with or without the ‘circus’ atmosphere (though busy at times, we have never found it to be anything but relaxing and laid back). We, too, have made many friends on that beach. Miss being there and can’t wait to get back to our 2nd ‘home’.

Well, perhaps the airport for one? No airport and not much a of a way to get to the island for most people.

Who says that there HAS to be the most important spot on the island? And why is it even helpful to make such a designation? There is certainly not a 'one size fits all', single most important spot on the island for EVERYONE. And what is most important to a single person also changes over the years. I know it has for us, over the 30 years we've been going. And that's normal and natural. People change over time and their needs and wants change. It's whatever is important to YOU, at that moment in time. That is what is so great about St. Maarten/St. Martin. It has something for everyone.

Going to close this one now, as it is not a productive argument.